All the animals in the Nama Karoo have become adapted to survive the toughest conditions. Plants are often dry, woody or unpalatable. The limited resources in the soil prevent any plants from growing to a large size, and thus a large body size is also not favourable for animals. Predators are few and far between, and in most cases the energy flow stops at small rodents, birds and lizards, before the circle is repeated.
Woody Vegetation
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/3139054.png?157)
Sweet thorn (Acacia karroo)
Shrubs to medium sized tree. Tree bark is rough and dark in colour. There are large white thorns carried in pairs. Flowers are carried in yellow spherical buds. Pods are flattened and curved. The tree gum can be used as food source, and it also has medicinal values. Leaves, flowers and pods are used as animal feed. Leaves and bark can also be used to prevent diarrea. Wood can be used for building materials, and the inner bark fibres are used to produce rope.
Shrubs to medium sized tree. Tree bark is rough and dark in colour. There are large white thorns carried in pairs. Flowers are carried in yellow spherical buds. Pods are flattened and curved. The tree gum can be used as food source, and it also has medicinal values. Leaves, flowers and pods are used as animal feed. Leaves and bark can also be used to prevent diarrea. Wood can be used for building materials, and the inner bark fibres are used to produce rope.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/2930444.png)
Wolwedoring (Lycium oxycarpum)
It can averages in height between 2m and 4m. It has a rough bark that peels off. Leaves and thorns occur on the same small side-branches. The flowers have a long tube (20mm) and the petals are purple. The bright red fruits are edible and many birds and rodents eat them.
It can averages in height between 2m and 4m. It has a rough bark that peels off. Leaves and thorns occur on the same small side-branches. The flowers have a long tube (20mm) and the petals are purple. The bright red fruits are edible and many birds and rodents eat them.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/2715684.png)
Driedoring (Rhigozum trichotomum)
It is a rigid and woody plant that can grow up to a height of 2m. It is an invasive and hardy species, sometimes forming thickets and displacing more valueable plants. The bark is dark brown to black, and the branches end in three spikes. The white flowers and seed pods are grazed upon, although the rest of the plant is unpalatable.
It is a rigid and woody plant that can grow up to a height of 2m. It is an invasive and hardy species, sometimes forming thickets and displacing more valueable plants. The bark is dark brown to black, and the branches end in three spikes. The white flowers and seed pods are grazed upon, although the rest of the plant is unpalatable.
Herbaceous Vegetation
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/2190329.png)
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Saw-tooth love grass (Eragrostis superba)
It is one of the easiest grass species to identify due to the large, flat spikelets on its inflorescence. It grows erect and can be up to 1m high. The spikelets led to the common name of this species, since they are large (up to 16mm long) and have jagged edges. This grass is palatable and is often used for grazing. It is often used as erosion control.
It is one of the easiest grass species to identify due to the large, flat spikelets on its inflorescence. It grows erect and can be up to 1m high. The spikelets led to the common name of this species, since they are large (up to 16mm long) and have jagged edges. This grass is palatable and is often used for grazing. It is often used as erosion control.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/619112.png)
Wire grass (Aristida junciformis)
The leaves are small and wire-like. Flowers in the summer and autumn. Is found in open grasslands, bushveld and fynbos. It is a fast growing species and is able to regenerate quickly after fires.
The leaves are small and wire-like. Flowers in the summer and autumn. Is found in open grasslands, bushveld and fynbos. It is a fast growing species and is able to regenerate quickly after fires.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/3314553.png)
Hairy dew flower (Drosanthemum hispidum)
Succulent plant. Leaves are cylindrical. The flowers are purple with yellow centres and carried on a short stem. It grows in dry sandy patches and flowers in the spring. The foliage is bright green throughout the year and forms a mat.
Succulent plant. Leaves are cylindrical. The flowers are purple with yellow centres and carried on a short stem. It grows in dry sandy patches and flowers in the spring. The foliage is bright green throughout the year and forms a mat.
Invertebrates
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/6087232.png)
Weevil (Curculionoidae)
They have short, sharp feelers sitting atop a head that is elongated to form a snout. The body covering is hard, with small dents. When disturbed, they play dead and only moves when the threat has passed. Females lay eggs in plants by using mouthparts to hollow out the plants.
They have short, sharp feelers sitting atop a head that is elongated to form a snout. The body covering is hard, with small dents. When disturbed, they play dead and only moves when the threat has passed. Females lay eggs in plants by using mouthparts to hollow out the plants.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/6397284.png)
Leaf hopper (Cicadellidae)
No feelers are visible. Wings are folded over backside. Adults have the ability to jump over great distances. They are mostly pale, with no bright colours. They feed on plant sap by using there mouthparts to suck out the sap. They cover themselves with a waxy, water-repellent substance, and when it is unevenly distributed, it appears as white markings.
No feelers are visible. Wings are folded over backside. Adults have the ability to jump over great distances. They are mostly pale, with no bright colours. They feed on plant sap by using there mouthparts to suck out the sap. They cover themselves with a waxy, water-repellent substance, and when it is unevenly distributed, it appears as white markings.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/2637991.png)
Emperor moth (Saturniidae)
They have broad feelers, about a third of their body length, and the male’s are fan-like. In comparison with their wings, they have a small body. Colours can vary, although a large eye spot is always present on the front and back wings. Adults lack any mouth parts, and thus die within a few days. Larvae of the species are often gathered by people to be used as a food source. The larvae feed on leaves of the sweet thorn tree.
They have broad feelers, about a third of their body length, and the male’s are fan-like. In comparison with their wings, they have a small body. Colours can vary, although a large eye spot is always present on the front and back wings. Adults lack any mouth parts, and thus die within a few days. Larvae of the species are often gathered by people to be used as a food source. The larvae feed on leaves of the sweet thorn tree.
Amphibians and Reptiles
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/2400623.png)
Cape dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum)
The head ends in a scaly helmet. The spine and the throat have a ridge of spikes that doesn’t overlap. Its tail is longer than its body and is used to hold on to branches as it moves along. It uses its retractable tongue to catch insects from a distance. It is leaf-green, with an orange line along its side.
The head ends in a scaly helmet. The spine and the throat have a ridge of spikes that doesn’t overlap. Its tail is longer than its body and is used to hold on to branches as it moves along. It uses its retractable tongue to catch insects from a distance. It is leaf-green, with an orange line along its side.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/5968889.png)
Boulenger’s tortoise (Homopus boulengeri)
It has a large shell, which is slightly brown in colour. Dorsal shields are slightly dented. It has five toes per foot, and a bent snout. They are endemic to the Nama Karoo biome. They feed on grasses, and are threatened by human activity.
It has a large shell, which is slightly brown in colour. Dorsal shields are slightly dented. It has five toes per foot, and a bent snout. They are endemic to the Nama Karoo biome. They feed on grasses, and are threatened by human activity.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/1790432.png)
Striped sandveld lizard (Nucras tessellata)
It is characterised by its extremely long tail. It has white and black stripes on its body, which fuse into red as it nears the tail. On its spine are four thin stripes. It feeds on scorpions, weevils and other insects.
It is characterised by its extremely long tail. It has white and black stripes on its body, which fuse into red as it nears the tail. On its spine are four thin stripes. It feeds on scorpions, weevils and other insects.
Birds
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/1366562.png)
Karoo chat (Cercomela schlegelii)
It is mostly grey, with a lighter underside, and darker wings and tail feathers. Can grow to be 18cm in length. Seems fairly tame, and would sit out in the open. It feeds of insects which it gathers by prodding at grass tufts and foraging on the ground.
It is mostly grey, with a lighter underside, and darker wings and tail feathers. Can grow to be 18cm in length. Seems fairly tame, and would sit out in the open. It feeds of insects which it gathers by prodding at grass tufts and foraging on the ground.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/3934410.png)
Sclater’s lark (Spizochorys sclateri)
It is endemic to southern Africa and prefers stony, semi-arid areas with low shrubs. It forages on the ground collecting seeds and insects. It is a pale brown colour, speckled with darker spots, with a white underside. Its beak is short and stubby.
It is endemic to southern Africa and prefers stony, semi-arid areas with low shrubs. It forages on the ground collecting seeds and insects. It is a pale brown colour, speckled with darker spots, with a white underside. Its beak is short and stubby.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/218987.png)
Red lark (Certhilauda burra)
Also known as ferruginous lark. Has a bright red to reddish-brown backside. It is an endemic species and restricted to the Northern Cape Province. It feeds on grass seeds. They are either solitary or found in pairs.
Also known as ferruginous lark. Has a bright red to reddish-brown backside. It is an endemic species and restricted to the Northern Cape Province. It feeds on grass seeds. They are either solitary or found in pairs.
Mammals
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/3779455.png)
Visagie’s golden mole (Chrysochloris visagiei)
Golden moles don’t have eyes, ears or tails, but they do have long claws and snouts which they use to dig with. Only a single specimen of Visagie’s golden mole has ever been found near Calvinia, in Cape Province, since agriculture has damaged the specimens habitat.
Golden moles don’t have eyes, ears or tails, but they do have long claws and snouts which they use to dig with. Only a single specimen of Visagie’s golden mole has ever been found near Calvinia, in Cape Province, since agriculture has damaged the specimens habitat.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/5467526.png)
Shortridge’s rat (Thallomys shortridgei)
It is a species endemic to South Africa. It is greyish in colour and feeds on insects.
It is a species endemic to South Africa. It is greyish in colour and feeds on insects.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/0/8/12088117/5197938.png)
Grant’s rock mouse (Aethomys granti)
It is dark grey in colour, and has a broad muzzle and a heavy head. It is closely related to the Namaqua Rock mouse (Aethomys namaquensis) (see image). It feeds on grass seeds.
It is dark grey in colour, and has a broad muzzle and a heavy head. It is closely related to the Namaqua Rock mouse (Aethomys namaquensis) (see image). It feeds on grass seeds.